One thing I ask of the Lord
This is what I seek
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life
To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
And to seek Him in His temple
For this reason I kneel before the Father
From whom every family in heaven
And on earth derives its name
I pray that out of his glorious riches
He may strengthen you with power
Through his Spirit in your inner being
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love
May have power, together with all God's people
To grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
And to know this love that surpasses knowledge
That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling
And to present you before his glorious presence
Without fault and with great joy
To the only God our Saviour
Be glory and majesty and power and authority
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen
"Shelter, Pt. 4" by Michael W. Smith is a powerful and uplifting song that speaks to the deep desire we all have to dwell in the presence of the Lord. The song is part of Smith's album "Still Vol. 1", which was released in 2020.
The song begins with the lyrics, "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." These words are taken directly from Psalm 27:4, where King David expresses his longing to be in the presence of God. This verse sets the tone for the entire song, as it captures the heart's cry for intimacy with the Lord.
In the next part of the song, Smith sings, "To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple." This line echoes Psalm 27:4 and Psalm 63:1, where David again expresses his desire to behold the beauty and glory of God. It is a reminder that our ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment can only be found in God.
Throughout the song, Smith's lyrics are deeply rooted in Scripture, drawing inspiration from various passages that speak of seeking God, dwelling in His presence, and experiencing His love. One such passage is Ephesians 3:16-19, which says, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith... that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." These verses speak to the longing for a deep and intimate relationship with God, a desire to be filled with His presence and love.
The song also highlights the importance of being rooted and established in love, as mentioned in Ephesians 3:17. This concept of being rooted in love is further reinforced by the idea of grasping the width, length, height, and depth of Christ's love, as described in Ephesians 3:18-19. It is a reminder that God's love for us is immeasurable and surpasses all human understanding.
As the song progresses, Smith's prayerful words express the desire for God's strength, power, and presence to dwell within us. This echoes the sentiment found in Ephesians 3:16, where Paul prays for the believers to be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit. It is a reminder that it is only through God's strength and presence that we can truly experience the fullness of His love.
In the concluding part of the song, Smith's lyrics echo the doxology found in Jude 1:24-25, where the apostle praises God for His ability to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before His presence. It is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to sustain us.
"Shelter, Pt. 4" is a beautiful and heartfelt song that captures the yearning for intimacy with God. Through its powerful lyrics and scriptural references, it reminds us of the importance of seeking God's presence, being rooted in His love, and experiencing the fullness of His love and power. It is a song that encourages us to draw near to God and find shelter in His presence.
